Mtera birding

Hi all

We counted the southern and eastern shoreline of Mtera at the weekend. Huge dark storm clouds all around us, heavy rain, esp to the west and the water level visibly rising. Given that this reservoir is 660km2 at 700m that's a lot of new water flowing in.

Highlights included a single flock of skimmers counted at 320 (3.2% of biogeographical population, 1.6% of global population) but photos will hopefully give us a more accurate count. Initially they were among >1,000 Grey-headed Gulls so difficult to count. I deliberately disturbed them and they separated out, wonderful sight, magical beasts. Greater Flamingos were scattered along the shoreline in small flocks, total close to 1,450 (4% of bio pop, BUT THIS POP OF 35,000 is, I THINK, AN UNDERESTIMATE, THE TRUTH BEING CLOSER TO 50,000 AND PERHAPS EVEN MORE)...

Button Quail with tiny chicks was an excellent breeding record and 2 Red-throated Pipits also worthy of note.

Rising water levels meant far fewer waders than 2 weeks ago..where do all these birds go when the whole country is in flood ??

Neil